The Archers #110: Game(keeping)'s up for Will. Game on for Lillian & Vince, Tracy & Oliver? Game over for Joe? Stay ahead of the game with all things Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed. We don't all agree on all points and most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you'd like to be Susan's best friend or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please. We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3439443-keep-it-to-yourself-the-archers-spoilers-thread-4, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Thanks to LillianGish for the title idea. Very tempted to go with MrsGrindah's suggestion of It’s all a bit crap and boring at the moment but let's be positive, maybe things will look up in the coming days ... Also very taken with Lexi's Midnight Runners - Burpers, maybe? - from Madcats.

Not at all happy about Lily not going to university. Yet another bright Ambridge woman not fulfilling her potential. Why do they do this?

maded it sound to me as if Joe was an animal preparing for his death by crawling away to hide, rather than a tired old man, if that makes sense? That was what sounded false to me (actually, as did Eddie checking on Joe to see if the cucumber had disagreed with him, in the first place! It somehow felt more stage-managed than Jill finding Phil, which was perfect, I thought.).

Well actually I felt very much as though that was exactly what my FIL did, when he checked himself out of the "nursing home" bit and back into his sheltered flat - especially as he did this when his DD was away and so couldn't object.

I am sure when Brian was discussing moving schools with Ruari he said something about promising Siobhan that he would have a Catholic education - which is why I thought a Catholic Public school not Sherborne.

By the way I wasn’t suggesting grief stricken wailing either. Like others have said, I think the choice of words was odd. I think though there will be many more sad episodes to come as the family ...in fact Ambridge..deals with the loss.

Delurking to say I liked last night’s episode, and tonight’s. I found them very emotional and Joe’s death was suitably warmed up by the scene between Elizabeth and Ruari.

The risk was always that it was going to be dreadfully hammy and melodramatic for a character that was 98 but I thought it worked well. Eddie’s reaction was a bit odd but as a previous poster said, I suspect they tried to other versions and that one felt the most right.

I'm not impressed with the writing for Eddie over Joe's deathbed. At all. Ham-fisted.

Oh, sorry, I do need to add, I am not now, and have never been, a fan of the male side of the Grundy family.

I strongly suspect that both last night's episode and tonight's will sound better as part of the omnibus, as Eddie's monologue will be continuous.

Beautiful touch at the end there, with William saying 'We'll have to ask Granddad ...'

“ Eddie's "Oh, Dad!" was well delivered, but "Is that why you slipped away early?" maded it sound to me as if Joe was an animal preparing for his death by crawling away to hide, rather than a tired old man, if that makes sense?”

I thought that too- but I liked that as well! I wonder whether the difference is between those of us who have had very old parents and those that haven’t?

I thought that as well but having dealt with the death of a very old parent and indeed very old animals I liked it too.

I wonder whether the difference is between those of us who have had very old parents and those that haven’t?

Joe’s death seems much kinder than what some of our elderly parents are going through. If they could, a lot of old people would choose to slip away without fuss or intervention. And those of us who love them would understand this.

"Joe’s death seems much kinder than what some of our elderly parents are going through. If they could, a lot of old people would choose to slip away without fuss or intervention. And those of us who love them would understand this."
Yes.

@Abraid- I agree. I can’t imagine a better end than Joe’s. Lovely evening, a few pints of cider, a few posh sandwiches then quietly slip away looking at his Susan.

Yes, I agree. My parents are in their later 80s and although they both have various health issues they're incredibly active and sharp for their ages. I'm dreading a decline, especially as we live hundreds of miles apart.

But the Grundies live their lives with animals, I think it's a good metaphor to say he 'slipped away'. Also they were continuing Joe's work the next day looking after the animals. How nice that Joe could die, in the confidence that his family were there.

Because nowadays soo many people die without having anyone to being there for them.

Not a bad bit of writing for a change

My mum lived 2 years too long- at 95. She was living independently with me visiting once a week to do the things she couldn’t until she was 93 and it would have been sad for me but perfect for her if I had turned up one Wednesday to find her dead in her bed.

Extremely well done I thought - thank goodness. Far more powerful than any of the recent melodrama. SW take note - work with the characters and you don’t have to do very much at all. BOOP (if that’s not inappropriate).

I liked Ed's actor's reaction. He didn't have to say much before his nasal delivery told us that he had been crying buckets.

Also to everyone remembering their parents passing. I remember one of my sadnesses being that my Dad would never find out what happened in The Archers - he loved to speculate on where the plot was going (in fact he would probably have loved this thread if he had been in any way internet savvy).

Yes- I think it was a perfect example of character driven drama.Everyone completely believable. Including Clarrie with her flash of panic when Will said he’d been down to the river.....

"Not a bad bit of writing for a change"
Utterly disagree! For me, it was a complete contrast with Elizabeth and Ruari, which I thought was very well done. The irony of the same SW being credited with both scenes does not escape me!
Thanks for the sympathy, @LilianGish - today is not a good day for me parental-death-wise!

I thought Eddie talking to Joe was a bit odd and awkward at first. Then found myself in floods :( the ruairi scene was great and well-matched.

By the end I just felt so sorry for all the Grundys and like I just wanted to hear Joe again.

Really, they need to give the Grundys a break after this. It’s relentless.

Lovely evening, a few pints of cider, a few posh sandwiches then quietly slip away looking at his Susan.

Yes, no hospitals, drips, harsh lights. Just quiet.

Really, they need to give the Grundys a break after this. It’s relentless.

Sadly it had to be done as the actor passed away in real life a few months ago.

Plus in real life death isn’t nicest evenly spaced out..

Am I the only one who remembers Joe Grundy as a workshy, inefficient, sly, lazy, unpleasant, old curmudgeon, then?